Lecture- Where did the Milky Way Go? at Mustang Library

Scottsdale Public Library - Mustang Library 10101 N 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ

Lecture- Where did the Milky Way Go? at Mustang Library Light pollution – unnecessary artificial light at night – has increased dramatically over the past few decades to the point that it drastically reduces our view of the starry sky and threatens our environment. The advent of energy-efficient LED lighting has compounded the problem. However,

Human History of the McDowells at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead

Brown's Ranch Trailhead 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ

Human History of the McDowells at Brown's Ranch Trailhead Location: Brown's Ranch Trailhead - 30301 N. Alma School Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Easy | Time: ~2 hours Did you know that most of what is now Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve was formerly the Brown family's ranch, also known as DC Ranch? The area

Bird Walk at Fraesfield Trailhead

Fraesfield Trailhead 13400 East Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, AZ

Bird Walk at Fraesfield Trailhead Location: Fraesfield Trailhead - 13400 E Rio Verde Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Easy Time: ~2 hours Join us to see some of our area’s full-time resident birds. It also gives us a chance to see spring migrants, for example: Wilson’s, Lucy’s, Townsend’s, or yellow warbler, or early-arriving summer

Women’s Bike Ride (Beginner ++) at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead

Brown's Ranch Trailhead 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ

Women’s Bike Ride (Beginner ++) at Brown's Ranch Trailhead Skill level: Beginner ++ Distance: ~15 miles Time: ~3 hours This woman’s bike ride is an intermediate skill level ride and moderate cardio. This ride is perfect for women or those who identify as women. It is a step up in intensity from the previous Woman’s

Wildflower Educational Hike at Granite Mountain Trailhead

Granite Mountain Trailhead 31402 N. 136th Street, Scottsdale, AZ

Wildflower Educational Hike at Granite Mountain Trailhead Location: Granite Mountain Trailhead - 31402 N 136th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Moderate Distance: ~3 miles Time: ~3 hours Come celebrate spring in the desert and experience the Preserve dressed in its most beautiful colors. Join our knowledgeable stewards on this hike to discover the incredible

Balanced Rock, Chuckwagon, Whiskey Bottle, Turpentine Trails at Granite Mountain Trailhead

Granite Mountain Trailhead 31402 N. 136th Street, Scottsdale, AZ

Balanced Rock, Chuckwagon, Whiskey Bottle, Turpentine Trails at Granite Mountain Trailhead Location: Granite Mountain Trailhead - 31402 N 136th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Difficult Distance: ~7.3 miles Time: ~3 hours We will hike to Balanced Rock along the very scenic south side of Granite Mountain, to Whiskey Bottle Trail, and return via the

Trailside Naturalist – What Bird was that? at Gateway Trailhead

Gateway Trailhead 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ

Trailside Naturalist – What Bird was that? at Gateway Trailhead Location: Gateway Trailhead – 18333 N Thompson Peak Pkwy, Scottsdale, AZ 85255 Time: ~2.5 hours Stop by anytime between 8:30 and 11:00 A.M. to find out what birds fly and live in the Preserve. The Conservancy, with the help of our research partners, has identified 189

Wildflower Educational Walk at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead

Brown's Ranch Trailhead 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ

Wildflower Educational Walk at Brown's Ranch Trailhead Location: Brown's Ranch Trailhead - 30301 N. Alma School Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Easy Distance: ~1 mile Time: ~2 hours Come celebrate spring in the desert and experience the Preserve dressed in its most beautiful colors. Join us on this easy walk to discover the incredible

Ride Secrets of the Preserve Educational Ride at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead

Brown's Ranch Trailhead 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ

Ride Secrets of the Preserve Educational Ride at Brown's Ranch Trailhead Location: Brown’s Ranch Trailhead - 30301 N. Alma School Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Intermediate Distance: ~11 miles Time: ~3.5 hours Ready to discover more about what is in the Preserve, besides the excitement of trail riding? This is the ride for you!

Ride from Pima Dynamite Trailhead

Pima Dynamite Trailhead 28777 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ

Ride from Pima Dynamite Trailhead Location: Pima Dynamite Trailhead - 28777 N Pima Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Intermediate Time: ~3 hours Join us for a fun adventure ride. This is an intermediate skill and high cardio ride. This ride includes some moderate climbing and twisty downhills. We will make short stops to regroup

Desert Surfaces Educational Walk at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead

Brown's Ranch Trailhead 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ

Desert Surfaces Educational Walk at Brown's Ranch Trailhead What really covers the desert – little organisms can make a big difference! Some of the most common sights in the desert – and indeed the living things that probably cover more of the desert than any single kind of plant – are lichen, desert varnish, and

Sonoran Sunday: Rattlesnakes, King Snakes & Gopher Snakes at Gateway Trailhead

Gateway Trailhead 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ

Sonoran Sunday: Rattlesnakes, King Snakes & Gopher Snakes at Gateway Trailhead Location: Gateway Trailhead –  18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy. Scottsdale, AZ 85255 Do you want to know what these 3 snakes have in common? Come hear Darrell Woolf, Exhibits Curator, Center for Native and Urban Wildlife at Scottsdale Community College and one of their

Phenology: Introduction to Plant Phenology Educational Walk at Gateway Trailhead

Gateway Trailhead 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ

Phenology: Introduction to Plant Phenology Educational Walk at Gateway Trailhead Location: Gateway Trailhead - 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy. Scottsdale, AZ 85255 Skill level: Easy Time: ~2 hours This leisurely walk along the Gateway Bajada Trail will introduce the study of the phases of plant reproduction, how and why the data are collected, and how

Whiskey Bottle, Turpentine & Black Hill Hike at Fraesfield Trailhead

Fraesfield Trailhead 13400 East Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, AZ

Whiskey Bottle, Turpentine & Black Hill Hike at Fraesfield Trailhead Location: Fraesfield Trailhead - 13400 E Rio Verde Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Moderate Distance: ~4.5 miles Time: ~2 hours This hike has a moderate uphill portion on the north side of Fraesfield Mountain with nice views of Granite Mountain and beyond, but the

Walk with Natural Resources Coordinator at Tom’s Thumb Trailhead

Tom’s Thumb Trailhead 23015 N. 128th Street, Scottsdale, AZ

Walk with Natural Resources Coordinator at Tom's Thumb Trailhead Spend about 2 hours on an easy walk with a City of Scottsdale Natural Resources Coordinator as various desert topics are discussed. The material will depend on what we see in this wonderful environment. Location: Tom’s Thumb Trailhead – 23015 N 128th St, Scottsdale, AZ, 85255

Wildflower Educational Walk at Tom’s Thumb Trailhead

Tom’s Thumb Trailhead 23015 N. 128th Street, Scottsdale, AZ

Wildflower Educational Walk at Tom's Thumb Trailhead Location: Tom's Thumb Trailhead - 23015 N 128th St, Scottsdale, AZ, 85255 Skill level: Easy Distance: ~1 mile Time: ~2 hours Come celebrate spring in the desert and experience the Preserve dressed in its most beautiful colors. Join us on this easy walk to discover the incredible variety

Secrets of the Preserve Educational Walk at Fraesfield Trailhead

Fraesfield Trailhead 13400 East Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, AZ

Secrets of the Preserve Educational Walk at Fraesfield Trailhead Location: Fraesfield Trailhead - 13400 E Rio Verde Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Easy Time: ~2 hours Ready to discover more about what is in the Preserve? This is an experience for you! Join us to explore the Preserve’s hidden treasures, from the plants and

Ride Hawknest and Axle Grease at Pima Dynamite Trailhead

Pima Dynamite Trailhead 28777 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ

Ride Hawknest and Axle Grease at Pima Dynamite Trailhead Location: Pima Dynamite Trailhead - 28777 N Pima Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Intermediate Distance: ~15 miles Time: ~3 hours Join us on this ride up Axle Grease to West Express, Hawknest, and Basalt Ridge, ending with an exciting flowy downhill on Hawknest back to

Lecture- Dozen Ways to Die in the Desert at Mustang Library

Scottsdale Public Library - Mustang Library 10101 N 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ

There are many unusual ways in which humans end up ten toes in the air in the middle of the Sonoran Desert.  This presentation and audience discussion provide information on how to deal with rattlesnakes, Gila monsters, scorpions, mountain lions, bees, heat stroke, hypothermia, and the occasional hostile cactus, just to name a few.  The

Wildflower Educational Hike at Tom’s Thumb Trailhead

Tom’s Thumb Trailhead 23015 N. 128th Street, Scottsdale, AZ

Wildflower Educational Hike at Tom's Thumb Trailhead Location: Tom's Thumb Trailhead - 23015 N 128th St, Scottsdale, AZ, 85255 Skill level: Moderate Distance: ~4 miles Time: ~3.5 hours Come celebrate spring in the desert and experience the Preserve dressed in its most beautiful colors. Join our knowledgeable stewards on this hike to discover the incredible